Blog
As a curious observer of life, I blog on writing, marketing, my prairie - anything that interests me in the moment. I like to have conversations with readers, so don’t hesitate to leave a comment. I'll respond.
Last fall my husband and I took a driving tour of New England. These states are known for their granite. The Granite State– New Hampshire – takes center stage. I knew when we set out…
Read MoreVinegar, cold water, and Epsom Salts. My mother was a great believer in simple solutions to what ails you. Poison ivy? Wrap it in a cloth soaked in vinegar. Cut or puncture wound? Soak it…
Read MoreMy folks didn’t engage in political discussions when I was growing up on the farm. They kept their thoughts to themselves or talked with each other out of range of hearing by us kids or…
Read MoreI enjoyed my first Blizzard this past week. Yep, that’s right. Twenty-five years after Dairy Queen introduced the candy-laced ice cream treats so thick they can serve them upside down, I finally had one. Since…
Read MoreMy challenge today is creating a character analysis for two of the main characters in my novel. As a writer of non-fiction, the idea of creating characters totally from imagination is a huge challenge. For…
Read MoreI learned of another approach to marking trails while doing research for an article for The Iowan. “Before highways and road signs” was published in the May/June issue. I’m reprinting the piece here with permission.…
Read MoreCoffin or casket? Is there a difference? And if there is, does it matter? Until recently, I used these words interchangeably. But I learned by talking to Loren Horton, an expert on Victorian and early…
Read MoreWe lost power last night, just as we were finishing supper. Fortunately for me, my husband always knows where the flashlights are. We rummaged up candles and turned on the gas fireplace. You never know…
Read MoreFlocked Christmas trees were quite the rage in the 1990s. Maybe they still are. But I was never a fan. The white foam sprayed on the needles looked heavy, unnatural. It always looked to me…
Read MoreArticles filling the papers and wrap-up shows on TV as we come to the end of 2009 indicate we’re not only ending a year, we’re also finishing a decade. Which leads to the question I…
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